Head of Finance

Waltons Outdoor Living; Sutton-on-Trent CP; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Waltons is seeking a commercially minded Finance Leader to run Group finance from Sutton-on-Trent. You will unite manufacturing finance, cost management and capital allocation across the business, reporting into the MD and partnering with senior stakeholders.

You will implement robust ERP and BI reporting, drive real-time insights, and lead a high-performing finance team through a period of transformation and growth, delivering measurable improvements in EBITDA and cash generation.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with post-qualification experience in manufacturing or operationally complex settings.
• Strong manufacturing finance experience including standard costing, inventory and profitability.
• Experience with ERP systems and BI/reporting platforms.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable commercial impact through margin improvement, cash release or cost reduction.
• Ability to build and lead a high-performing finance function.

Responsibilities

• Lead Group finance with accountability for cash forecasting and working capital management.
• Develop a best-in-class manufacturing reporting environment with visibility of costs, production and profitability.
• Drive margin and profitability using standard costing and drive pricing, mix and cost-out decisions.
• Bring real-time financial and operational reporting to life via ERP, BI and automation; identify AI opportunities.
• Partner with the MD and leadership team to challenge assumptions and support commercial decisions.
• Develop KPI framework linked to the value creation plan with clear ownership.
• Oversee capex appraisal and post‑investment reviews to improve capital allocation.
• Own management and statutory accounts, VAT, payroll and tax compliance; strengthen financial controls.
• Lead ERP/BI transformation to improve data integrity and month-end close.
• Build and lead a high-performing finance team across the Group.

Skills

Manufacturing finance

ERP systems

BI reporting

Commercial judgement

Finance leadership

Data automation

Stakeholder management

Capital allocation

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Tools

ERP systems

BI platforms

Job description

About us

Waltons has designed and built garden buildings in Britain since 1878. We are one of the UK’s largest manufacturers in our sector, making sheds, summerhouses, log cabins and garden rooms. We have recently expanded into Climbing Frames, Wellness and Outdoor Living, all from our site in Newark.

We sell directly to consumers and through Trade Partners. Manufacturing, logistics and installation are all managed in-house, giving us a vertically integrated operating model and significant scope to improve performance as we scale.

Following our acquisition by new private ownership in 2025 and a change in leadership in 2026, Waltons Group is entering a significant period of transformation and growth. This year we will deliver >30% YoY growth, with a clear value creation plan already underway.

The opportunity

Our first phase of growth has gone well. The next phase is about quality of earnings: converting that growth into sustainable EBITDA, stronger cash generation and increased enterprise value.

We are looking for a commercially minded finance leader to help make that happen.

This is not a reporting-led finance role. Reporting directly to the MD, you will act as the principal financial and commercial adviser to the business, working closely with the leadership team to improve performance across pricing, product, manufacturing, procurement, inventory, investment and growth.

You will be expected to challenge decisions, identify opportunities and turn financial insight into action.

The role

You will lead finance across the Group, with responsibility for:

• Cash & working capital: Establish a robust rolling 13-week cash forecast and embed discipline across inventory, purchasing, receivables and supplier payments.
• Manufacturing finance: Develop a best-in-class manufacturing reporting environment, providing clear visibility of product costs, production performance, labour, material usage, efficiency, inventory and profitability to support operational decision-making.
• Margin & profitability: Build reliable product, channel and customer profitability using standard costing, and use this to drive pricing, mix, efficiency and cost-out decisions.
• Real-time reporting & AI: Bring real-time financial and operational reporting to life through ERP, BI and automation. Identify and implement practical AI opportunities to improve visibility, automate processes and support faster, better decision‑making across the business.
• Business partnering: Act as a true business partner to the MD and leadership team, using financial insight to challenge assumptions, identify opportunities and support commercial and operational decisions.
• Value creation: Develop a KPI framework linked directly to our value creation plan, with clear ownership and accountability across the leadership team.
• Capital allocation: Bring greater discipline to capex, technology and growth investment through robust business cases and post‑investment reviews.
• Control & governance: Own management accounts, statutory accounts, audit, VAT, payroll and tax compliance, while strengthening financial controls.
• Finance transformation: Lead finance through our ERP and BI programme, improving data integrity, automation, reporting and the month‑end close.
• Leadership: Build and lead a high‑performing finance team, developing capability, accountability and commercial focus as the business scales.

You will be expected to operate comfortably between strategic discussions with the MD and detailed operational finance on the factory floor.

About you

You will be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with substantial post‑qualification experience, ideally gained within a manufacturing or other operationally complex environment.

You will bring:

• Strong manufacturing finance experience, including standard costing, inventory, product profitability and operational performance
• Proven experience working with ERP systems and BI/reporting platforms
• A track record of delivering measurable commercial impact through margin improvement, cash release, cost reduction or better capital allocation
• The ability to build and lead a high‑performing finance function
• Strong commercial judgement and the confidence to challenge senior stakeholders
• Experience of using data, automation and technology to improve finance processes and decision‑making
• Experience in PE‑backed, investor‑owned, entrepreneurial or transaction environments
• Strong technical accounting, controls and statutory reporting capability
• A hands‑on approach and the ability to operate at both strategic and detailed levels

We are less interested in the number of years on your CV than in what you have actually changed and improved.

You will be someone who wants to understand how the business makes money, where it loses money and what we can do about it.

The opportunity to grow & develop.

As Waltons continues to scale, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to take increasing ownership of Group finance, strategic decision‑making and the broader financial agenda.

Salary - Competitive

Location - Sutton-on-Trent